Hydraulic transmission for mining machines



Sept. 24, E935. M. P. HOLMES HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION FOR MINING MACHINES Filed April 12, 1950- 2 ShegtS-Sheet 1 [/YVE/YTOR:

Mann/s I. HOLMES.

A) A'MM M. P. HOLMES HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION FOR MINING MACHINES Filed April 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M A M 2 3 8 .3; 5/1 W Z 5 g o r/ mi 4 P:

mm u. l M 7 @Hw L. a/ 5 0 NW 3 F w Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE Morris P. Holmes, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a. corporation of Massachusetts Application April 12, 1930, Serial No. 443,865

31 Claims.

My invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to improved feeding means for a coal mining machine of the continuous cutter type.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved feeding mechanism for a coal mining machine. Another object is to provide improved feeding mechanism for a coal mining machine of the flexibly fed continuous cutter type. A further object is to provide an improved flexible feeding means for a. coal mining machine having embodied therein improved mechanism for obtaining a very wide range of feeding speeds permitting close regulation of the speed whether the same be high or low. Another object is to provide an improved feeding mechanism for a mining machine including improved mechanism for permitting the transmission of a feed at substantially any rate whatever within the feeding capacity of the mechanism. A further object is to provide an improved hydraulic transmission mechanism. A still further object is to provide an improved hydraulic transmission mechanism particularly adapted for use in the feeding mechanism of a mining machine and operative to provide both a wide range of feeding speeds and also to permit feed in opposite drections. These and other objects of the invention will more fully appear in the following description and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which there is shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which the invention may assume in practice,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining machine having incorporated therein the illustrative embodiment of the improved feeding means.

Fig. 2 is a top view with parts broken away, showing details of construction of the feedin means.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the same line as the corresponding parts of Fig. 2.

F g. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail section showing the oil supply arrangement and taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

In the illustrative embodiment of the inventicn, the improved feeding means is shown embodied in a coal mining machine of the flexibly fed, bottom cutting, longwall type, though it is evident that the same may be incorporated in machines of other types. The machine illustrated comprises a frame or body I having a smooth bottom surface 2 upon which the ma-- chine rests during movement over the mine bottom. The body I comprises a central motor 5 section 3, a cutter end section 4, and a feed end section 5. Pivotally mounted on the cutter section and at the rear end of the machine body is a cutter bar 6 pivotally supported for horizontal swinging movement and carrying a cutter chain 10 I. Locking means'including a rotatable locking pin 8' is provided to lock the bar in difierent positions,- this pin cooperating with recesses 9 in a flange l0 formed on the cutter section 4. The motor section 3 houses a motor II which is 15 preferably of the reversible electric .type, and has its armature shaft [2 horizontally disposed and extending longitudinally of the machine. As any usual type of transmission mechanism may serve to connect the armature shaft in 20 driving relation with the cutter chain '1, such for instance as that disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 136,446, filed September 20, 1926, now matured into Patent No. 1,815,872, granted July 21, 1931, this mechanism is not il- 25 lustrated.

The improved flexible feeding means provided for feeding the machine over the 'mine bottom during cutting at a cutting speed and for moving the machine from one place to another about 3 the mine includes a feed operating or haulage member, illustrated herein as a feed drum [3. This drum is equipped with a flexible feeding element or cable [4. Arranged at opposite sides of the forward end of the machine and adjacent 5 the feed drum and rotatable about vertical axes on the feed frame are guide rollers or sheaves I5 about which the feed cable l4 may be led in a suitable manner for facilitating the performance of the various operations of the machine. The 40 mechanism for supplying electrical energy to the motor, being well understood in the art, is not illustrated. The motor control, however, includes devices operated by a controller handle I! projecting from the forward end of the feed 45 frame.

Housed within the feed frame section 5 and connecting the forward end of the armature shaft I2 with the feed drum 13 when desired, is improved variable speed transmission mechanism by which the drum l3 may be driven in either of opposite directions and at a wide range-of feeding speeds. The motor armature shaft l2 carries in rigid relation to its forward end a spur pinion 20. The pinion 20 meshes with and drives an internal gear 22 housed within a chamber 23 formed within the feed frame section 5. The internal gear 22 has a hub portion 24 journaled in a bearing 25, and is supported by a longitudinally extending shaft 26 which is parallel to the motor shaft. While the shaft 26 is herein shown as directly driven by the internal gear 22, it will be understood that a yieldable driving connection similar to that shown in my copending application Ser No. 412,516, filed December 7, 1929, now matured into Patent No. 1,914,503, granted June 20, 1933, may be employed if desired. Coaxially arranged with the shaft 26 and rotatably supported in bearings 21 is a worm 28 which meshes with a worm gear 29 rotatable upon a vertical axis. The worm gear 29 is supported in coaxial relation with a vertical shaft 36 which carries at its lower end a pinion 3| meshing with an' internal gear 32 carried by the feed operating member l3. The worm gear 29 may be connected to drive the shaft 36 by clutch mechanism including a toothed clutch element 34 rigidly secured to the upper end of the shaft 36, a clutch element 35 keyed to the worm wheel 29, and an internally toothed vertically slidable clutch member 36 which is movable downwardly to connect the toothed elements 34 and 35 to eiiect drive of the pinion 3|, by means of a manually controllable clutch shipper mechanism 31. When the sleeve or clutch member 36 is in its uppermost position, drive is interrupted.

Improved mechanism is provided for transmitting rotation from the shaft 26 to the coax- .ially mounted worm 28. This mechanism permits complete disconnection of the shaft and worm, direct connection between the shaft and worm, and the transmission of rotation from the shaft to the worm at a wide variety of difierent speeds; the speed reductions possible being, practically speaking, unlimited in number within the range of the mechanism.

The shaft 26 carries thereon a member 46 which is generally cylindrical in outline and which is provided with three peripheral pockets 4| in each of which a spur toothed member 42 is supported for rotation by a short heavy shaft 43. Intermediate the chambers 4| are a series of partition-like portions 44, and these are each traversed by a pair of passages 45 and 46. The passages 45 are so positioned that all of them lie in one group of planes transverse to the axis of the shaft 26, while the passages 46 all lie in another group of transverse planes. The passages 45 and 46 each comprise radially extending portions and portions at right angles to the radially extending portions. The latter portions of the passages 45, herein designated 41, all open in one direction through the walls of the partition elements, and

the corresponding portions 48 of the passages 46 open through the opposite sides of the partition elements. It will be noted that the member 46 is keyed at 49 to the shaft 26. Surrounding the member 46 is a casing of plural-part construction generally designated 56 and keyed at 5| to a sleeve formed integrally with the worm 28. The housing 56 has coaxially arranged therein an internal gear 52 which is held by the bolts 53 which connect the parts of the housing 56, against rotation relative to the housing. The internal diameter of the gear 52 is such that the circumferential portions of the member 46, those at the outer ends of the partition portions 44, are a close fit for the ends of the teeth of the gear 52. The pinions 42 mesh with the teeth of the gear 52. Theshaft '26 is provided with a central bore .of each of the pinions 54 with which the inner ends of the radially extending portions of the passages 45 and 46 communicate. This bore is connected at its rearward end through a passage 55, herein shown as, though not necessarily, controlled by a check valve 56, with a space 51 in communication with the chamber within the frame section 5 in which the transmission gearing is in the main arranged. Reciprocably mounted in the bore 54 is a hollow valve member 59 having a bore 66 which communicates with a chamber 6|. The chamber 6| as shown in Fig. 6 communicates with an oil sump 62 within the gear housing in the frame section 5. The valve member 59 is reciprocable in opposite directions by a manually rotatable nut member 63 which cooperates with a screw 64 rotatably connected to the forward end of the valve member 59. The screw 64 is held a ainst rotation by a sliding head fitting grooves 65 in the member in which the chamber 6| is formed. The

opposite end of the member 59 is provided with a peripheral groove 66 which is bounded at its opposite ends by shoulders 61 and 68. The groove 66 communicates through passages 69 with the bore 66 of the member 59. The shoulder 63 is formed on a head 16 whose dimension longitudinally of the valve 59 is slightly greater than the width of the passages 46, The groove 66 is of suflicient width to permit bringing passages 45 and 46 into substantially complete free communication. It will be understood that the oil level within the sump or chamber 62 always stands high enough to insure oil flow into the interior of the chamber 66 when a reduced pressure is produced therein by operation of the mechanism in the manner to be described. I

The mode of operation of the improved transmission mechanism will be readily understood, and as the mode of operation of a longwall machine is well known to those skilled in the art, no detailed description of that needs to be given. The motor H causes rotation of its armature shaft l2 and the pinion 26 drives the internal gear 22, and thereby rotates the shaft 25. Suitable manipulation of the manually rotatable nut 63 will position the portion 16 of the valve 59 just to the right of the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the mouths of the passages 46 will then be slightly open. The shaft 26 will cause the housing 46 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 5, and accordingly the pinions 42 will roll around within the internal gear 52. If the gear 52 remains stationary, it will be evident that a vacuum will be produced to the rear 42, and accordingly oil will be drawn from the sump up into the hollow valve 59 and pass by way of certain of the passages 69 to the annular groove 66 and thence to the passages 45 in the member 46 and into the portions of the spaces 4| at the rear of the pinions 42.- Rotation of the pinions 42 will also serve to force out from the portions of the spaces 4| in advance of the pinions 42 fluid which will flow through the passages 46 into the space 54 and be vented through the passage 55 and past the check valve 56 into the sump. Accordingly the air will first be displaced from the. portions of the spaces 4| to the rear of the pinions 42, and then oil will be transferred from these portions of the spaces into the portions of the spaces 4'l in advance of the pinions 42, and finally all of the spaces between the members 4| and 52 will be completely filled with 011. I'm machine may then be caused to feed at ful speed simply by moving the spool or head I6 to:

. 26. If a, slower speed of rotation of the worm is desired, the valve 59 may be shifted further to the left in Fig. 4, and a controlled flow of fluid from the passages 46 through the passages 45 to the portions of the spaces 4| at the rear of the pinions 42 may be permitted. It will be evident that,'dependent upon the flow area provided, any

' speed,.practical1y, will be possible, for if the passages 45 and 46 are placed in. free communication, then the pinions 42 can rotate freely and will simply pump out the fluid from the spaces in advance of them to the spaces to the rear of them. As the rate of fluid flow from the passages 46 to the passages 45 is progressively diminished, there will be a retardation in the rate of rotation of the pinions 42 upon their faxes, and accordingly a building up of rotation of the internal gear 52, and as said above, any speed of rotation can, within the limits of the device, be obtained by rotation of the nut 63 in the desired direction.

It will be understood that with rotation of the worm 28, rotation of the worm wheel 29 will be effected, and that by lowering the clutch member 36 to the position shown in 3, drive of the pinion 3| and resultant drive of the feed operating member l3 will be accomplished. Opposite rotation of the motor armature shaft l2 will cause opposite rotation of the member 40, and fluid will tend to discharge from the spaces 4| through the passages 45 into the space 54, and thence through the passages 45. By moving the valve 59 substantially to the left in Fig. 4, control of -the speed during reverse rotation is obviously readily possible.

From the foregoing description it will be clearly apparent that I have provided an improved mechanism which will permit, with a very small number of parts, a very wide variation in the rate of feeding speed, and a precise adjustment of said speed to the cutting or other conditions encountered. It will be noted, moreover, that but a few parts are necessary, that these may be of rugged construction, that there is a minimum of wear, and that a device which is equally satisfactory .in transmitting motion at the-desired speed in either directionis presented. It will, moreover, be observed that the device is, so-to-speak, self-priming, that it may always be caused to fill itself completely full of oil by running it in the proper direction, and that when the air has once been exhausted from its interior, continued operation of the device preeludes the re-entry of air and maintains the chambers constantly filled with the fluid pumpingmaterial.

'While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various'other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In a mining machine feeding mechanism,

the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and a fluid controlled transmission mechanism in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid. gearing within said casing, said gearing embody- 5 ing an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, means having arcuate surfaces for sealing the edges of certain of the teeth of said orbitally moving gears, fluid passage means a including passages for supplying fluid to and passages for discharging fluid from the teeth of said gears, and means for controlling the flow 0! fluid through said fluid supply and discharge passages to vary the speed ratio of the driving 1 and driven elements.

2. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element. a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission mechanism in the drive between said elements in- 20 eluding a rotatable casing for containing fluid,

gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear secured to said casing for driving the latter and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven 25 gear, a support rotatably mounted within said casing and by which said driving gears are carried, fluid passage means for circulating fluid to and from the teeth of said gears including separate supply and discharge passages formed in said rotatable support, and means for controlling said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

3. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled means in the drive between said driving and driven elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, a rotatable support mounted within said casing and carrying said orbitally moving-gears, said support being freely rotatable relative to said casing and having pockets presenting arcuate surfaces for sealing the edges of certain of the teeth of said orbitally moving gears, passage forming means for cir-' culating fluid to and from the teeth of said gears, and means for controlling said passage means to vary the speed ratio of said driving and driven elements.

4. In a'mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled means in the drive between said driving and driven elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, a rotatable support within said casing and carrying said orbitally movinggears, said support being freely rotatable relative to said casing, passage forming means in- I eluding fluid conducting passages formed in said rotatable support for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears, and means for controlling the flow in said passage means to vary the'speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

- 5. In a mining machine feeding mechanism,

the combination of a driving element, adriven element, and fluid'controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearingcontained in said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, means having arcuate surfacesfor sealing the edges of certain of the teeth of said orbitally moving gears, passage forming means for conducting fluid to and from the teeth of said gears, and means including a valve arranged coaxially with said driving element for controlling the fluid supply to and fluid discharge from said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

6. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, means having arcuate surfaces for sealing the edges of certain of the teeth of said orbitally moving gears, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears and including fluid conducting passages formed in said driving element, and means for controlling flow through said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

7. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving thelatter, means having arcuate surfaces for sealing the edges of certain of the teeth of said orbitally moving gears, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears and including fluid conducting passages formed in said driving element and communicating passages connecting the passages in said driving element with the spaces between the teeth of said gears, and means for controlling flow through said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

8. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, means having arcuate surfaces for sealing the edges of certain of the teeth of said orbitally moving gears, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears, and means including a valve arranged coaxially with and adjustably mounted in said driving element for controlling flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

9. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element. and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears, and

means including a valve arranged coaxially with and adiustably mounted in said driving element for controlling flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements, said driving element having a passage therein and communicating passages connecting said passage with the spaces between the teeth of said gears and said valve having a passage for conducting fluid to said first mentioned passage.

10. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven 10 element, a rotatable casing for containing fluid and secured to said driven element, gearing contained within said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear secured to said casing for driving the latter and orbitally moving driv- 15 ing gears meshing with said driven gear, a rotatable support contained within said casing and carrying said orbitally moving gears, passage forming means for circulating fluid to and from the teeth of said gears, means including a valve 20 arranged coaxially with said driving element for controlling said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements, said driving element having a valve chamber receiving said valve. 25

11. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, a rotatable casing for containing fluid and secured to said driven element, gearing con tained within said casing, said gearing embody- 30 ing an internal driven gear secured to said casing for driving the latter and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a rotatable support contained within said casing and carrying said orbitally moving gears, passage 35 forming means for circulating fluid to and from the teeth of said gears, means including a valve arranged coaxially with said driving element for controlling said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements, said 40 driving element having a valve chamber receiving said valve and said passage forming means including passages formed in said rotatable support and communicating .with said valve chamber.

12. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element,-a driven element and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing con tained in said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, a rotatable support contained in said casing and having chambers for receiving said orbitally moving gears and partition-like portions projecting between said chambers, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears and including passages formed in said rotatable support, and means for controlling I flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements;

' 13. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, a rotatable support contained in said casing and having chambers for receiving said orbitally moving gears and partition-like portions projecting between said chambers, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth I the combination of a of said gears and including passages formed in said rotatable support, said rotatable support also having a chamber receiving said driving element, and means for controlling flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

14. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a drivingelement, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing the fluid, gearing contained in said casing. said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a rotatable support contained in said casing and carrying said driving gears, said support having chambers for receiving said driving gears and said driving element, passage forming means including passages formed in said rotatable support and within said driving element for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears, and means for controlling flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

15. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing withv said driven gear,-a rotatable support contained in said casing and carrying said driving gears, said support having chambers for receiving said driving gears and said driving element, passage forming means including passages formed in said rotatable support and within said driving element for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears, and means for controlling flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements and including a valve carried by said driving element for controlling fluid flow through said passages.

16. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying an internal driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a fluid reservoir, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears including a fluid supply passage communicating with said reservoir, and means including a valve arranged coaxially with said driving element and having a fluid supply passage therein communicating with said first named fluid supply passage for supplying fluid to said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

17. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying a driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a rotatable support contained in said casing and carrying said driving gears, said support having chambers for receiving said driving gears and said driving element, passage forming means including passages formed in said rotatable support and within said driving element for conducting fluid to and from the teeth of said gears, and means'for controlling named fluid supply passage said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

18. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying a driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a rotatable support contained in said casing and carrying said driving gears, said support having chambers for receiving said driving gears and said driving element, passage forming means including passages formed in said rotatable support and within said driving element for conducting fluid to and from the teeth of said gears, and means for controlling said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements and including a valve carried by said driving element for controlling fluid flow through said passages.

19. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying a driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a fluid reservoir, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears including a fluid supply passage communicating with said reservoir, and means including a valve arranged coaxially with saiddriving element and having a-fluid supply and fluid controlled transmission means passage therein communicating with said first,

for supplying fluid to said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

20. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying a driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, means having arcuate surfaces for sealing the edges of certain of the teeth of said orbitally moving gears, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears, and means including a valve arranged coaxially with and adjustably mounted in said driving element for controlling flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

21. In a mining machine feeding mechanism the combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmissior means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying a driven gear and orbitallymoving driving gear: meshing with said driven gear, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth of salt gears, and means including a valve arranged co axially with and adjustably mounted in sair driving element for controlling flow in said pas sage means to vary the speed ratio of the drivin and driven elements, said valve having a passag for conducting fluid to the teeth of said gears.

22. In a mining machine feeding mechanism the combination of a driving element, a drive element, and fluid controlled transmissio means in the drive between said elements incluc' ing a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gea1 ing within said casing, said gearing embodying 6 I 2,o15,14a

driven gear andtorbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, passage forming means for conducting fluid to the teeth oi! said gears. and means including a valve arranged coaxially with and adjustably mounted in said'driving element for controlling flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements, said driving element having a passage therein and commimicating passages connecting said passage with the spaces between the teeth of said gears and said valve having a; passage for conducting fluid to said first mentioned passage.

23. In amining machine ieeding mechanism. the combination of a driving element, a driven element, a rotatable casing for containing fluid and secured to said driven element, gearing contained within said casing, said gearing embody-- ing a driven gear secured to said casing and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a rotatable support contained within said casing and carryingsaid orbitally moving gears and having pockets presenting arcuate surfaces for sealing the edges of certain of the teeth of said orbitally moving gears. passage forming means for circulating fluid to and from the teeth at said gears, means including a valve arranged coaxially withsald driving element for controlling said passage means to varythe speed ratio of the driving and driven elements, said driving element having a valve chamber receiving said valve. e

24. In a mining machine ieeding mechanism,

the combination of a element, adriven element, a rotatable casing for containing; fluid and secured'to said driven element, gearing con-- tained within said casing, said gearing embodyingadriven gearsecuredtosaidcasingand' orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a rotatable support contained within said casing and carrying said orbitally moving gears, passage forming means for circulating fluid to and from the teeth of said gears, means including a valve arranged coaxially with said driving element for controlling said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements, said driving element having a valve chamber receiving said valve and said passage forming means including passages formed in said rotatable supportand communicating with said valve chamber. V

25. In a mining machine feeding mechanism. the combination of a driving element, a driven element. and 'a fluid controlled transmission in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodyingadrivengearandorbitally movingdriving gears rushing with said driven gear for driving thelattenarotatablememberwithinsiidcasing and rotatable relative thereto and having peripheral pockets for receiving said orhitally movinggearasaidlattergearsadaptedtomowe upon rotation of said rotatable member, fluid pasage means including formed in said rotatable member for pplying flnid'nmidforfluidfromtheteeth or hrmovmgsearaandmeansror contmllingtbeflowotfluidthroughsaidflnid manddisehargetovarytnes eed mtioottbe anddrivenelmnents.

26.1naminingmachinefeeding thecombinationoi adriving elementra driven elemennandflundcontrnlledmeansmthedrive betweensaiddrivinganddrivenelementsincluding a rotatable casing for containing fluid. gearing contained in said casing, said gearing embodying a driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, a rotatable support mounted within said casing and having peripheral pockets for receiving said orbitally moving gears, said supportbeing freely rotatable relative to the casing and upon rotation, relative to said casing eiiecting orbital movement oi said driving gears, passage forming means for circulating fluid to and from the teeth of said gears and'including fluid supply and discharge passagesformed in said rotatable support and communicating with the pockets therein, and means for controlling said passage means to vary the speed ratio of said driving and driven elements.

27. In a mining machine feeding mechanism. the combination of a driving element. a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the 'drive between said-elements'including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing contained in said saidgearing embodying a driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear, a rotatable member within said casing and rotatable relative thereto and'having peripheral pockets tor receiving said orbitally moving gears, said latter gears moving orbitally upon rotation of said rotatable membenpaissage forming means including fluid supply and discharge passages formed in said rotatable Imember for conducting fluid to and from theteetl'i-of said orbitally moving-gears,

" and means including a valve arranged coaxially withsaid driving element-for controlling the fluid supply to and fluid discharge from said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

, 28.1naminingmzichineieedingmechanism the combination 015 a driving. element, a driver element, and fluid controlled transmission mean: in the drive between said elements including 2 rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearini contained in said casing, said gearing embodyini a driven gear'and orbitally moving driving gear meshing with said driven gear. a rotatable mem ber within said casing and rotatable relativ thereto and having peripheral pockets for re ceiving said orbitally moving gears, said latte t gears moving orbitally upon rotation of said to tatable member, passage forming means includin fluid pp y and discharge pasages formed i said rotatable member and cooperating pasage in said driving element for conducting fluid t and from the teeth of said orbitally moving gear. and means including a valve arranged coaxial] with said driving element -for controlling th fluid supply to and fluid discharge from said pa: sagemeanstovarythespeedrafioofthedrivin and driven elements.

29. In a mining machine .ieeding mechanism the combination of a driving element, a-drive element, and fluid controlled transmission meal in the drive between said elements including rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearil within said casing. said gearing meshingwithsaid drivengearfordrivingtl latter, a rotatable member within said cash and rotatable relative thereto and having perip] erai pockets for receiving said orbitally movii gears, said latter gears moving crhitally up rotation of said rotatable member, passage for:

sages formed in said driving element and communicating passages formed in said rotatable member for connecting the passages in said driving element with the pockets in said rotatable member, and means for controlling flow in said passage means to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

30. In a mining. machine feeding mechanism, the" combination of a driving element, a driven element, and fluid controlled transmission means in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying a driven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, a rotatable member within said casing and rotatable relative thereto and having peripheral pockets for receiving said orbitally moving gears, said latter gears moving'orbitally upon rotation of said rotatable member, passage forming means for conducting fluid to and from the teeth of said gears including fluid supply and discharge passages formed in said rotatable member and communicating with the pockets thereof, and means including a valve arranged coaxially with and adjustably mounted in said driving element for controlling the flow of fluid in said passage means to vary thespeed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

31. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a driving element, a driven element having a central opening, and a fluid controlled transmission mechanism in the drive between said elements including a rotatable casing for containing fluid, gearing within said casing, said gearing embodying adriven gear and orbitally moving driving gears meshing with said driven gear for driving the latter, a rotatable member within said casing and rotatable relative thereto and having pockets for receiving said orbitally moving gears, said latter gears moving orbitally upon rotation of said rotatable member,

said member having a. central opening and said orbitally moving gears spaced about said opening, fluid passage means including" passages,

formed in said rotatable member for supplying fluid to and for discharging fluid from said pockets, a shaft extending centrally through the openings in said driven element and said rotatable 20 member and through the space between said orbitally moving gears for driving said driving element, and meansjn said shaft for controlling the flow of fluid through said fluid supply and harge passages to vary the speed ratio of the driving and driven elements.

ortars P. HOLMES.

CERTIFICATE or coRREcTwN.

- Patent No. 2,015,143. September '24, 1935.

MORRIS P. HOLMES.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, 'line 47, e claim 20, ,for ",scaling rcad sealing; a nd that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction the.gein that the same may-conform) the record of the case the Patent Office. I

Signed celled this 26th day of November, A. D. 1935.;

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting 'cohmiesio er of latedtg, 

